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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 27: Lord Indra and Mother Surabhi Offer Prayers
10.27.2010.27.22-23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.27.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mother Surabhisince 10.27.19inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इन्द्रं नस्त्वाभिषेक्ष्यामो ब्रह्मणा चोदिता वयम् । अवतीर्णोऽसि विश्वात्मन् भूमेर्भारापनुत्तये ॥ २१ ॥

indraṁ nas tvābhiṣekṣyāmo

brahmaṇā coditā vayam

avatīrṇo ’si viśvātman

bhūmer bhārāpanuttaye

Translation

As ordered by Lord Brahmā, we shall perform Your bathing ceremony to coronate You as Indra. O Soul of the universe, You descend to this world to relieve the burden of the earth.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Direct Service to the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Surabhi has had enough of imperfect demigod leadership and is determined to serve the Supreme Lord directly. Brahmā’s order authorizes her proposal to coronate Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa descends to relieve the earth’s burden of self-destructive, mundane administration. Since He rules millions of universes, He can certainly care for Surabhi.

  3. 3

    Surabhi wants to bathe the Lord for her own purification. She earnestly offers her proposal to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Soul of the universe.

Key points from the purport
  • Since Brahmā has ordered her, her attempt to coronate Lord Kṛṣṇa as her personal Lord is authorized by higher authority.
  • Moreover, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself comes down to the earth to relieve the burden of self-destructive, mundane administration, and thus it is perfectly consistent with the Lord’s own purpose that He become the Lord of Surabhi.
  • In fact, Surabhi wanted to bathe the Lord for her own purification, and she earnestly makes her proposal to Viśvātmā, the Soul of the universe, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Attraction and threat → Joy and trust. The pastoral world becomes the setting for protection and love.

Chapters 20–28 of Canto 10: Forest seasons, flute and Govardhana. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 27: Lord Indra and Mother Surabhi Offer Prayers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lord Kṛṣṇa ordered Indra to return to his proper position in heaven and to serve there without egotism. Indra, along with the cow Surabhi, then performed a bathing ceremony for Kṛṣṇa, using the water of the heavenly Ganges and the milk of mother Surabhi.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.27
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. indramas Indra
  2. naḥour
  3. tvāto You
  4. abhiṣekṣyāmaḥwe shall perform the bathing ceremony of coronation
  5. brahmaṇāby Lord Brahmā
  6. coditāḥordered
  7. vayamwe
  8. avatīrṇaḥ asiYou have descended
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.27

    In this verse: “administration”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.27

    In this verse: “purification”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I approach service to Kṛṣṇa with Surabhi’s desire for purification?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer asking to serve Kṛṣṇa for your own purification.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChoose Direct Service to the Supreme LordThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.27.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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